Picture a safer west Edinburgh with new postcard

Making West Edinburgh a safer and cleaner place to live is the aim of a new community safety postcard being launched tomorrow (6 October).

The postcard highlights the successful work
of the West Community Safety Forum and how members of the public can raise
issues of concern.

Achievements in recent months have included
regular joint Police and Council patrols to deal with broken glass and dog
fouling close to the play area at Clermiston Park, engaging with young people by
liaising with schools, and working with parents to respond when antisocial
behaviour is identified.

Other initiatives have included raising
awareness of and stopping dangerous parking around schools so it is safer for
children to cross roads, and speaking to speeding cyclists in Roseburn
Park.

The postcard can be used by members of the
community to contact the Neighbourhood Partnership about any suggestions
regarding improvements to the area.

Councillor Paul Edie, Community Safety
Leader and Chair of the Western Edinburgh Neighbourhood Partnership, said:
"There are some fantastic initiatives in the west of the city which are making a
real difference to people's lives.

"This postcard highlights the
wide range of community activities taking place day in day out across West
Edinburgh and also gives people an opportunity to have their say in what matters
to them.

"Over the past four years
great inroads have been made across the city in tackling antisocial behaviour
and it's important we do not rest on our laurels.

"By listening to their
suggestions the Council and partners like the Safer Neighbourhood Teams from the police and the
Council's Community Safety officers can better direct resources to dealing with
the public's concerns."

Inspector
Andrew Gilhooley, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "The West Community
Safety Forum has enabled us to understand and respond better to local people's
needs, and we are committed to seeking the views of our communities to identify
local issues, so that we can work with all our partners to achieve a solution.

"Proactively
tackling antisocial behaviour in all its forms has led to various joint
initiatives being implemented, all of which have helped to improve the quality
of life of residents in the west of Edinburgh."

Money for the postcards came from the
Edinburgh Council Social Justice Fund which allows local forums to develop
initiatives to support community safety objectives.

The West Edinburgh Community Forum is made
up of members of the public, community council, residents' associations,
neighbourhood watch groups, council and police staff.

The road show event will be taking place
from 10.30am to 3pm in the Rannoch Centre where members of the Community Safety
team will be on hand to answer questions from the public and explain more about
their work. Environmental Wardens will also be carrying out high visibility
patrols in the local area.